Sleigh Bells – Bitter Rivals – CD (Mom + Pop Music) While I will admit that Sleigh Bells’ third release isn’t as strong as either of their previous two, I still think that it is one of the best releases of the year which I’ve heard. This dynamic duo plays catchy...

Parov Stelar – The Art of Sampling – CD (Island Records) I came late to the whole Parov Stelar party only hearing his music when I first started listening to electro-swing earlier this year. I feel he is at the forefront of the whole movement and though many of...

Softball – Tenku – CD (Asian Man Records) Softball reminds me of a more punk version of Shoen Knife. It’s pretty close to other punk-pop bands out there, but the big difference is that it’s three cute girls instead of three cute guys. I think that’s what...

Speed Dial – Keca’m – CD (Mother West) For some reason every time I pop this in I think of The Police from “Regatta De Blanc”. There’s just something about his voice and the musical style. As the songs progress it loses that...

The Service – Who’s Criminal? – CD (GMM Records) Great punchy UK style punk rock in the same spirit as The Clash and Sham 69. The lead singer rants on several of the songs like a euphoric Keith Morris with a British accent. I like The Service, but by...

Spring Heel Jack – Treader – CD (Thirsty Ear Recordings) This is a strange thing to be sent to MRZ since it’s ambient/experimental/techno stuff, but it’s a nice change of pace amongst the massive amounts of Punk Rock we usually have to review....

Steely Dan – The Royal Scam – CD (MCA / Universal Records) This is a re-release from 1976. For those of you unfamiliar with Steely Dan, their sound is very mellow-smooth with one of the most prominent instruments being the synthesizer and a synth-sounding...

STB – Spit – CD (Elbo Records) I swear that Sonia Tetlow is somehow channeling Souixe Sioux. (Yes, I know Souixe isn’t dead, but her voice is here). The music is a bit goth with a lot of really good indie rock with many personal lyrics. All three...

Screeching Weasel – Thank You Very Little – 2CD (Panic Button Records) This release is chock full of unreleased and live Screeching Weasel tracks. You get songs from their 1986 demo as well as outtakes from their 1999 release “Emo”. Plus the...

Steely Dan – Aja – CD (MCA / Universal Records) If there is one Steely Dan album that you had to own, this one should be it. While every song on this re-release is killer, it’s worth getting just for the tune Peg. It is nothing short of awesome. This...

Sculptured – Apollo Ends – CD (The End Records) An odd and hard to classify release. A progressive death metal band with a horn section… hum.. Maybe this CD would grow on me if I listened to it enough, but so far I don’t quite get it. Weak drumming, weak...

Satanic Surfers – Going Nowhere Fast – CD (Burning Heart Records / Epitaph) I had really high hopes for this one, I was thinking of a high test mutation of surf rock and satanism, a satanic “wipeout” if you will. Instead, I was treated to some...